Instagram Bans Betting Ads Featuring Harry Kane and Erling Haaland

The UK's advertising watchdog has officially banned two Instagram ads featuring football superstars Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that using these high-profile players in gambling promotions is irresponsible because they hold a strong appeal to children under the age of 18.

The ads in question were posted by Oddschecker back in November. One featured England captain Harry Kane with a caption about his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, while the other highlighted Erling Haaland alongside bets for Norway to win the 2026 World Cup. Even though the captions looked like sports trivia, the ASA rejected the excuse that they were simply editorial content.

Oddschecker argued that they had set their Instagram account to be visible only to those over 18. They claimed the posts were meant to be informative rather than traditional ads, which is why they didn't include standard responsible gambling messages. However, the ASA pointed out a reality most parents know all too well: many children use fake birth dates when signing up for social media platforms like Instagram.

Under strict UK rules, gambling companies are prohibited from using celebrities or imagery that could specifically attract young audiences. While the ASA cracked down on the Kane and Haaland ads, they did allow an ad featuring former Arsenal star Thierry Henry to stay up. The regulator noted that Henry, who is now a retired player and pundit, didn't carry the same high risk of appealing to minors as current, active Premier League icons.

This ruling sends a clear message to the betting industry: even if you age-gate your social media accounts, using the biggest names in world football to promote gambling is a red card in the eyes of the law.

['#GamblingRegs', '#HarryKane', '#ErlingHaaland']